First NFL coach fired: Mike McCarthy, Robert Saleh top 2024 hot seat rankings

NFL teams and fan bases often view the offseason as a time of hope. Each of the league's 32 clubs adds new talent to its roster, gets healthy, and tries to carve out a path to improve heading into the new season. Plenty of teams view themselves as Super Bowl contenders while others consider themselves playoff hopefuls in the NFL's 14-team playoff format.

But naturally, some teams will fall short of expectations during the 2024 NFL season. Those who do will face a reckoning as owners assess how to turn their franchises into winners.

Often, those teams look to make at least one major organizational change, if not more. In the NFL, the easiest change a franchise can make is firing its head coach and replacing him with another.

In the past, NFL owners would typically wait until Black Monday — the Monday following the final day of the league's regular season — to decide whether to keep their coaches. However, in recent seasons, impatient NFL owners have been more than willing to let their leaders during the season.

In 2023, three coaches were fired in-season — Frank Reich, Josh McDaniels and Brandon Staley. That was part of an offseason that saw eight coaches across the league replaced, including Patriots legend Bill Belichick.

Early dismissals seem likely to continue in 2024. There are plenty of coaches on the hot seat who may not be allowed to finish the season if their teams fail to find success in its early stages. As such, the pressure will be on several candidates to prove themselves to avoid the indignity of being let go during the NFL campaign.

Here's a run-down of the coaches on the hottest seats entering the 2024 NFL season.

MORE: Ranking the NFL's top QBs for 2024 from 1-32

NFL first coach fired: Coach hot seat rankings

Hot seat coaches

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1. Mike McCarthy, Cowboys

McCarthy has led the Cowboys to a 42-25 record in his four seasons with Dallas and has three playoff appearances in those campaigns. Even so, he checks in at No. 1 overall on this list after his teams have struggled in the playoffs.

The Cowboys have just one playoff win under McCarthy and have failed to advance past the divisional playoff round. They won the No. 2 seed entering the 2024 postseason but were trounced 48-32 in a game where their well-regarded defense simply didn't show up.

Many believed Dallas might move on from McCarthy after his latest playoff failure. Owner Jerry Jones decided to give him one more chance to achieve the franchise's goal of winning a Super Bowl.

"I believe this team is very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals, and the best step forward for us will be with Mike McCarthy as our head coach," Jones said in a statement . "There is great benefit to continuing the team's progress under Mike's leadership as our head coach."

McCarthy may not be as lucky if Dallas can't go on a deep playoff run this season. If they somehow fail to make the playoffs, it's all but guaranteed that a new coach will be roaming the Cowboys sidelines in 2024.

2. Robert Saleh, Jets

Jets owner Woody Johnson didn't exactly issue a playoff mandate for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas, but he hinted strongly at it during the 2024 offseason.

"The discussions I've had in the last couple of months, they've seen me about as mad as I can be with what was going on, with the offense particularly," Johnson said, per ESPN . "We have all this talent, and we have to deploy talent properly. So, I think they all got the message. This is it. This is the time to go. We've got to produce this year."

Saleh has just an 18-33 record in his first three seasons with the Jets and has posted back-to-back 7-10 records. His defenses have been excellent, but the Jets' offense has routinely ranked in the bottom quartile of the NFL across his three seasons.

Saleh will hope that having a fully healthy Aaron Rodgers will allow his team to reach its potential. If it doesn't, expect the 45-year-old to become a coveted defensive coordinator candidate on the open market.

3. Dennis Allen, Saints

Allen earned the right to be New Orleans' head coach after gradually turning it from one of the NFL's worst defenses into one of its best.

As a head coach, Allen hasn't yet been able to take advantage of the weak NFC South. He has posted a record of 16-18 with the Saints and has seen the Buccaneers beat them for the division title each season.

Now, the NFC South is getting better. The Falcons added Kirk Cousins to the fold, while the Panthers are hopeful that former Buccaneers quarterback guru Dave Canales can work wonders with Bryce Young.

As such, the Saints may regress if Allen can't get the team to make the leap. If that happens and the wheels finally fall off, expect New Orleans to make a change and part with the final vestiges of the Sean Payton and Drew Brees era.

4. Brian Daboll, Giants

Putting Daboll on the hot seat might be premature. After all, he won the Coach of the Year award in 2022 after leading the Giants to a 9-7-1 record, a playoff berth, and a first-round victory over the Vikings while making Daniel Jones look like a capable starting quarterback.

However, in 2023, the Giants looked lost on offense. Their offensive line couldn't block in front of Jones and Co., and the team sputtered to a 6-11 record with bottom-five marks in both points and yards per game. Daboll may have been the victim of unfavorable circumstances, but it's not like his playcalling or adjustments made much of a difference for the Giants.

Daboll's future may depend on figuring out whether his 2022 results were legitimate or if they were aided by a highly favorable schedule. New York will use the 2024 season to evaluate that, but if things don't go well for the Giants, they may part with the once-promising Daboll quickly, a la Ben McAdoo.

5. Matt Eberflus, Bears

Ebeflus entered the 2023 NFL season with a hot seat and it appeared he was in danger of losing his job after an 0-4 start to the season.

Eberflus managed to hold onto his job with a well-timed "Thursday Night Football" win over the Commanders in Week 5. He continued his good fortune as Chicago got hot just before its bye, finishing the season 5-2 and seeing its defense improve drastically after the acquisition of Montez Sweat at the trade deadline.

Despite the strong finish, Eberflus' record with the Bears sits at just 10-24 and the team is now facing high expectations with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams taking over at quarterback. Eberflus' offenses have ranked bottom-six in passing yards in his two seasons with the team, so if that doesn't improve under new coordinator Shane Waldron, the Bears may face a difficult decision about the future of their franchise.

At the same time, Eberflus' defense has been a strength, so if Waldron can get the most out of Williams, the third-year coach could quickly dump some cold water on his hot seat.

Seats that could warm up quickly

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6. Todd Bowles, Buccaneers

Bowles has been perfectly average in his two seasons with the Buccaneers with a record of 17-17. The team finished a disappointing 8-9 in Tom Brady's final season before sputtering out in the playoffs because of Byron Leftwich's struggling offense.

Bowles pushed the right buttons going into his second season, hiring Dave Canales to replace Leftwich and reaping the rewards of that decision. Canales helped lead Baker Mayfield to one of his best-ever seasons as a starter while Tampa Bays shocked the world, making the playoffs and beating Philadelphia in the first round to earn Bowles his first playoff win.

Now, Bowles is tasked with retooling on offense again, as Canales left for Carolina. If things don't go well under Liam Coen and Mayfield takes a step back, Bowles could find himself in an awkward position where the Buccaneers could want to find some offensive stability. The easiest way to do that would be to replace their defensive-minded head coach.

Still, Tampa Bay's playoff appearance last season should be enough to keep Bowles' seat from getting too hot — provided the team doesn't crater without Brady and Canales.

7. Sean McDermott, Bills

McDermott is entering his eighth season in Buffalo, and he has been one of the franchise's best coaches in recent memory. He has led the team to a 73-41 record and has brought the Josh Allen-led squad to the postseason six times.

That consistency has shielded McDermott from criticism for most of his career. But last season, the 50-year-old endured some bumpy moments amid Buffalo's slow start to the season. He eventually pushed the right buttons by moving on from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and replacing him with Joe Brady, but that change still didn't get the Bills over the hump in the postseason.

Buffalo has never won the AFC under McDermott and has only made it to the AFC championship game once during his tenure. The Bills have struggled to beat teams like the Chiefs and Bengals in January; the Bills may be tempted to make a change if McDermott once again comes up short of those goals this season.

Moving on from McDermott carries some risk, as Buffalo's defense has routinely been a top-five unit under his watch. Still, the Bills have given McDermott plenty of time to prove himself, so they may be ready for a change if the same old story unfolds during the 2024 NFL season.

MORE: Ranking the NFL's top 30 RBs for the 2024 season

8. Nick Sirianni, Eagles

Sirianni seemed safely on the cold seat after leading the Eagles to an appearance in Super Bowl 57, but his seat quickly warmed up after the team scuffled down the stretch in 2023.

Without Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon, Philadelphia took steps back on both sides of the ball. Jalen Hurts didn't look as comfortable without Steichen, and the relationship between the quarterback and Sirianni was described as "fractured," according to an ESPN report .

Since then, the Eagles have made major changes to their coaching staff. Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio enter as new coordinators for the team and should provide Siranni with more support than the Brian Johnson and Sean Desai/Matt Patricia-led groups from last season.

Those changes seem likely to help the Eagles, but if they don't, Philadelphia may decide Sirianni is to blame for the team's issues. Rumors about the Eagles replacing Sirianni with Bill Belichick swirled during the 2024 offseason, so perhaps that course could be considered if Hurts needs another fresh start.

9. Mike Tomlin, Steelers

Credit to Tomlin: He still hasn't had a losing season during his 17-year NFL head coaching career. The Steelers went 10-7 last season and made the playoffs despite using Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph as their top quarterbacks.

Why then is Tomlin's seat hot? The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since 2016. Their offenses have also consistently struggled to score the past five years, ranking 21st or worst in points per game four times.

The Steelers may desire to change to an offensive-minded head coach if their struggles continue under Tomlin and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. That would especially be true if the team's quarterback duo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields can't hold down a position that has been in flux since Ben Roethlisberger's prime ended.

Doubting Tomlin at this point may seem foolish, but the Steelers' patience has to run out at some point, right? That will keep some heat on Tomlin's seat even as he continues to coach up one of the most consistently strong defenses in the NFL.

10. Doug Pederson, Jaguars

Pederson has led the Jaguars to 9-8 records in his first two seasons with the team. The first year, it was seen as an impressive feat, as he quickly brushed off the stink of the Urban Meyer debacle and turned Jacksonville into a functioning offense.

His second season was considered to be more disappointing. The Jaguars were heavily favored to win the AFC South but didn't even make the playoffs. They went 1-5 in their last six games as injuries derailed their offensive progress and caused them to blow a two-game divisional lead.

Pederson wasn't to blame for the rash of injuries the Jaguars faced, but if the team's late-season struggles aren't reversed in 2024, he could find himself under some serious pressure. Remember, he has just one season with double-digit wins under his belt despite his 60-53-1 record as a head coach. That could lead Shad Khan to consider replacing Pederson if he posts another middling or below-average season.

Then again, Khan's experience with Meyer may help Pederson to stick around. Khan may not want to dip into the unknown again if he can help it, so Pederson likely has the longest leash among this tier of coaches.

Seats that are neither hot nor cold

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11. Sean Payton, Broncos

Payton is entering just his second season in charge of the Broncos and posted an 8-9 record in his first year with the team. With that in mind, it's probably too early to consider him being on the hot seat.

That said, it's not like Payton has limitless job security. Sure, the team just spent a first-round pick on quarterback Bo Nix, who looks like a great fit in Payton's offense, but if the Broncos don't perform better offensively in 2024, blame for that could fall on Payton, who was hired with the goal of improving Denver's offense.

More likely, Broncos general manager George Paton will be the first to pay in any restructuring of Denver's organization. He was one of the architects of the ill-fated Russell Wilson trade, after all.

But Payton is under pressure to show some progress this season. Wilson may have handcuffed the team's offensive capabilities last season, but if they don't take a step forward — or at least show some flashes — under Payton and Nix, then his seat could warm up even if it's unlikely the Broncos would part with him after just two seasons.

12. Kevin O'Connell, Vikings

O'Connell could do no wrong in his first season with the Vikings, leading them to a 13-4 record despite sporting one of the NFL's worst defenses. Some natural regression hit last season, as the Vikings went 7-10 under his watch despite an improved defense.

Kirk Cousins' injury played a big role in Minnesota's struggles, but he is now with the Falcons. The Vikings replaced him with No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy, but he tore his meniscus , so Sam Darnold will be Minnesota's starter this season.

With that in mind, the Vikings probably view this as a lost year and won't punish O'Connell too much if they can't make a playoff run. Still, any further regression could raise questions about whether O'Connell's first year with the team was indicative of his talent level or a luck-driven aberration.

Unless the Vikings come to firmly believe the latter characterization to be true after this campaign, O'Connell seems likely to stick around until he can get in a season of work with McCarthy. The 39-year-old is a young, well-respected offensive mind with a good reputation for quarterback development, after all.

13. Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals

The Cardinals logged a record of just 4-13 during Gannon's first season in charge of the team, but that was always expected to be the case. Arizona lacked talent on its roster last season, and Kyler Murray missed the first half of it recovering from a torn ACL.

Gannon still got his players to play hard and the Cardinals were competitive once Murray was back in the fold. That doesn't necessarily guarantee that Gannon will be the long-term coach in the desert, but his job doesn't appear to be in danger despite his poor record.

Perhaps another poor record will put pressure on Gannon entering his third year, but Arizona seems to know they are in the midst of a longer-than-average rebuild. Monti Ossenfort will likely afford Gannon some patience as he continues to add talent to the Cardinals' roster.

MORE: Tracking every NFL team's cuts ahead of the 53-man roster deadline

14. Shane Steichen, Colts

Steichen's seat probably leans cold after he led the Colts to a 9-8 record during his first season with the team. That wasn't enough to get them into the playoffs, but they had a win-and-in scenario in Week 18 despite not having their top quarterback, Anthony Richardson, for most of the season.

Steichen got a quality campaign out of Gardner Minshew despite him being a worse scheme fit than Richardson. The 39-year-old's ability to rapidly improve Indianapolis' offense should encourage Jim Irsay's front office, especially if they can help Richardson stay healthy in 2024.

The only reason Steichen's seat is neutral and not cold? He didn't quite get the Colts to the playoffs last season. If Indianapolis can do that this year in a crowded AFC, he will solidify himself as one of the league's best young coaches — and one who is more than capable of turning an offense from a frustrating unit into a juggernaut.

15. Mike McDaniel, Dolphins

If you're looking for an endorsement of Mike McDaniel, look no further than Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The 26-year-old ripped his former coach, Brian Flores, while offering high praise for McDaniel in a recent appearance on "The De LeBatard Show."

"If you woke up every morning and I told you [that] you suck at what you did, that you don't belong doing what you do, that you shouldn't be here, that this guy should be here [instead], that you haven't earned this right," Tagovailoa said.

"And then you have somebody else come in and tell you 'Dude, you are the best fit for this.' ... How would it make you feel listening to one or the other."

McDaniel has certainly done well with Miami's offense. The Dolphins ranked No. 1 in points and No. 2 in yards per game last season, and Tagovailoa has averaged 4,631 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on a 67.4 percent completion rate with McDaniel.

The issue with McDaniel is that he hasn't quite figured out how to make the Dolphins' defense match their "Greatest Show on Turf" offense. And in colder weather, Miami's offense hasn't shown up as much, which has made them burn out in the playoffs in McDaniel's first two seasons.

McDaniel can quell those concerns by earning a playoff victory this season. He can also exacerbate them with another unspectacular postseason, so putting his stock in neutral seems to make sense.

16. Kevin Stefanski, Browns

Stefanski entered the 2023 NFL season with a slightly warm seat. He did a lot to cool it off, leading the Browns to an 11-6 record and a playoff appearance despite starting five different quarterbacks during the season.

Stefanski now has a 37-30 record with the Browns and has twice won the AP's Coach of the Year award during his four seasons in Cleveland. The only thing that hasn't yet gone according to plan is the team's acquisition of Deshaun Watson. He has merely posted an 81.7 passer rating in 12 career games with the Browns.

Watson's issues may keep Stefanski from being truly on the cold seat, but his seat certainly isn't as warm as it was last season. If given the choice between the two in a vacuum, Cleveland may choose to keep Stefanski over Watson unless the quarterback can show flashes of the potential he showcased early in his Texans career.

First-year coaches

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17. Raheem Morris, Falcons

Expectations matter when evaluating the first-year head coach with the most to prove, and no team is facing greater expectations than Morris' Falcons.

Atlanta was considered a potential NFC South winner last season with Desmond Ridder at quarterback. Now, the Falcons have added Kirk Cousins, and many believe he is the best quarterback in the division. As such, fans and analysts alike believe he will give the Falcons a necessary shot in the arm on offense and turn them into a playoff contender.

Morris could end up being the party to blame if Atlanta falls short of expectations. Arthur Blank is known to be a patient owner, but the 81-year-old showed he was willing to take on the unknown when he parted with Arthur Smith after the 2023 season. He could do that again next offseason if Morris' 21-38 record as a head coach turns out to be indicative of his abilities.

More likely, though, Blank will give Morris a couple of years to prove himself.

18. Dan Quinn, Commanders

The Commanders will probably give Quinn a strong chance to prove himself in Washington. He is a well-liked, energetic coach who is navigating a multi-year rebuild that will take some time to execute.

Why then is his seat the second-hottest among the first-year coaches? It's simple. He's a defensive-minded coach whose top task is to develop No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels into a star NFL quarterback.

If Daniels struggles at all during his first season, new owner Josh Harris may wonder whether the right move would be to add an offensive-minded coach to install Daniels into a quarterback-friendly offense. Kliff Kingsbury could also accomplish that goal as the team's offensive coordinator, but either way, if Daniels doesn't develop well, the blame for that problem will fall back on Quinn.

It would probably take a Bryce Young-like rookie season for the Commanders to move on from Quinn, but it's at least something to monitor. It doesn't feel like any defensive-minded coach is overly safe in the NFL nowadays with the increased emphasis on offense.

19. Dave Canales, Panthers

The Panthers went 2-15 last season, finishing with the worst record in the NFL. There's nowhere to go but up, right?

Canales was hired because he helped lead Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield to career years in back-to-back seasons with the Buccaneers and the Seahawks. He will now look to work that same magic with Bryce Young after he endured a terrible first season.

While expectations may not be high for the Panthers, owner David Tepper is not exactly known for his patience. Canales should have a long leash, but it's hard to trust Tepper — who is on his fourth coach in three years — to allow that to happen.

If Canales can't develop Young into a quality starter, Tepper may look to clean house again in a couple of years.

20. Antonio Pierce, Raiders

Mark Davis inherited the Raiders from his father Al Davis in 2011. Pierce is the franchise's ninth different head coach since then — or seventh, excluding interim coaches. No coach has lasted longer than Jon Gruden's three-plus seasons during that time.

That's not to say that Davis won't handle things differently with Pierce. Raiders players have endorsed him thus far, so Davis may be willing to be patient this time, especially since Pierce had Las Vegas' defense playing at a high level for the first time in years.

Still, Davis' history may eventually make Pierce feel like he's under the Sword of Damocles if the team can't make a wild-card push in the AFC sometime soon.

21. Brian Callahan, Titans

Callahan joins the Titans after a respected run as the Bengals' offensive coordinator. He helped develop Joe Burrow into a top-flight NFL quarterback and helped Jake Browning hold his own in relief of the injured Burrow last season, so it stands to reason that he'll be granted time to similarly develop Will Levis.

Callahan signed a five-year contract with the Titans, so he'll have a few seasons to figure things out as he works alongside Titans general manager Ran Carthon to rebuild the once-Mike Vrabel-led roster.

22. Mike Macdonald, Seahawks

Replacing Pete Carroll isn't going to be easy. He coached the Seahawks for 13 years and established a unique culture in Seattle that kept them competitive for most of those seasons.

Carroll's departure will significantly shake up Seattle's culture even though Macdonald's system is similar to Carroll's, as it should rely on running the ball and playing great defense to earn wins.

It isn't yet clear how players will respond to Macdonald, but the Seahawks' braintrust knows this transition won't happen overnight. Carroll was a top-tier player's coach, and it will take Macdonald time to earn the trust of his guys as he looks to cut his teeth as the NFL's youngest current head coach (37).

23. Jerod Mayo, Patriots

The Patriots moved on to their second coach of the 21st century in 2024 when Mayo was hired to replace Bill Belichick. The task isn't easy, but Mayo brings a high-level defensive acumen and a well-rounded understanding of the organization having played eight seasons for the Patriots.

Robert Kraft installed Mayo as Belichick's successor because of these factors, as well as his youth (38) and upside as a coach. The Patriots may face a tough decision if Mayo and his staff struggle to develop Drake Maye over the next couple of years, but it's not like the front office and ownership group will have Mayo on a short leash.

Expect the Patriots to give Mayo plenty of time as he takes on the unenviable task of replacing Belichick.

24. Jim Harbaugh, Chargers

Harbaugh didn't leave Michigan the year after winning a national championship for a short-term NFL gig. He has a 44-19-1 career record as an NFL coach with the 49ers and will look to continue winning with the Chargers.

Los Angeles getting Harbaugh was a boon for Justin Herbert's career, so this marriage figures to past three years, at the very least. If all goes well, it could end up being a fruitful, long-term partnership.

Cold seats

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25. DeMeco Ryans, Texans

In the three seasons before Ryans went to the Texans, they had four coaches, zero playoff appearances, and a combined record of 11-38-1.

Ryans led the Texans to a 10-7 record and a playoff win in C.J. Stroud's rookie season. He also coached Stroud to one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, as the No. 2 overall pick completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.

Ryans' offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is returning for the 2024 NFL season, so the Texans figure to be a strong contender once again. The Texans should be thanking their lucky stars they finally found the right coach, as Ryans' performance and history with the team have established him as a long-term fit in Houston.

26. John Harbaugh, Ravens

It has been more than a decade now since Harbaugh beat his younger brother in the Super Bowl, and the Ravens haven't been back to the big game since. That may lead some to believe that Harbaugh's seat could get warm at some point soon.

But Harbaugh has just one losing season in his 16 years in Baltimore, and he led them to the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year. He helped orchestrate the Todd Monken hire which led Lamar Jackson to his second MVP season last year.

Yes, Harbaugh has his warts, as the Ravens have won just three playoff games since his lone Super Bowl win. Still, he has a 160-99 record as a head coach and has the Ravens on the cusp of another Super Bowl run.

As with the aforementioned McDermott, he may eventually run out of chances to get there. However, after the success the Ravens enjoyed last year en route to the AFC championship game, it doesn't seem like Baltimore will be looking to oust the 61-year-old any time soon.

27. Zac Taylor, Bengals

Taylor went 6-25-1 in his first two seasons as Cincinnati's head coach. Since then, he's 31-19 with a Super Bowl appearance to his name. He helped turn Joe Burrow into one of the NFL's best quarterbacks and has an impressive 5-2 record in the postseason.

Taylor will face a tough test in 2024, as he will be asked to battle against a high-quality AFC North after losing his offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to the Titans. With a fully healthy Burrow, Taylor's offense and Lou Anarumo's defense are a good enough combination to potentially win that division and keep Taylor entrenched as one of the NFL's best young coaches.

28. Matt LaFleur, Packers

The Packers have had just one losing season in LaFleur's five years with the team, and his 56-27 record since taking over for Mike McCarthy is among the best in the NFL. It doesn't seem like the Packers will part with him any time soon, especially considering the strides Jordan Love made in his first year as a starter.

LaFleur's one issue has been getting the Packers over the hump in the postseason. They have won one game in three of his four playoff appearances, but they have never made it to a Super Bowl despite consistently having one of the NFL's top offenses.

LaFleur has had some odd coaching decisions in the postseason, like his decision to kick a 26-yard field goal while down eight points with 2:09 left in the 2021 NFC championship game against the Buccaneers. The Packers never saw the ball after cutting Tampa Bay's lead to 31-26, so LaFleur's decision was heavily scrutinized.

Another key gaffe in a critical moment could cause LaFleur's seat to heat up. For now, he remains safely entrenched as Green Bay's head coach and one of the top offensive-minded coaches in the NFL.

29. Kyle Shanahan, 49ers

The Shanahan offense is a thing of beauty, and it has helped the 49ers get to the Super Bowl twice in the past five years. It has turned Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant into a star while Shanahan has found plenty of playmakers to make the 49ers one of the most unstoppable teams in the league.

Shanahan would probably like to cash in all of his success to finally earn a Super Bowl title. He hasn't done so yet but has had a late lead slip through his fingers a few times with the 49ers, and — more famously — the Falcons. That's the one qualm 49ers fans may have with him.

Another late-game loss in the postseason could eventually have some in San Francisco wondering if Shanahan will ever get them over the hump. As it stands, he's still one of the NFL's brightest offensive minds and should consistently have the 49ers in contention as his career continues.

Ice cold seats

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30. Dan Campbell, Lions

Campbell's gutsy fourth-down decisions sometimes frustrate fans, but he turned the Lions from a bottom-barrel NFL team to an NFC championship-caliber squad in just three seasons. That's impressive considering the Lions hadn't won a playoff game since 1991 before Campbell's arrival.

It's hard to imagine the Lions parting with Campbell any time soon after back-to-back winning seasons. It would take a massive drop-off or consistent failure of his ultra-aggressive play-calling for the tides to turn in Detroit, so expect him to be a long-time member of the Lions' staff.

31. Sean McVay, Rams

McVay is no longer the youngest coach in the NFL, but he is still just 38 and sports a 70-45 record as Los Angeles' head coach. He has just one losing season and earned a Super Bowl win with the Rams during the 2022 postseason.

McVay has had four top-10 offenses during his six years with the Rams, and he also has developed an impressive coaching tree that includes Zac Taylor and Kevin O'Connell. As such, Los Angeles has no reason to want to part with McVay.

The one wild card is whether McVay will retire from coaching at some point to become a broadcaster. He has been subject to retirement rumors — which he has addressed — and media networks would covet his skills as a high-end analyst, whether it's in the booth or in the studio.

For now, McVay remains interested in coaching. As long as that's the case, the Rams will be happy to have him roaming the sidelines.

32. Andy Reid, Chiefs

The Chiefs became the first team since the 2003-04 Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Reid has led the team to three Super Bowl titles in the last five years while turning Patrick Mahomes into the NFL's best quarterback.

Kansas City has a 128-51 record under Reid, so the Chiefs are likely happy to employ Reid as long as he wants to keep working. The 66-year-old didn't entertain retirement discussions during the 2024 offseason, so the Reid-Mahomes partnership appears it will continue for years to come.